Commentary - The Stomach Needed for Writing

In the news: "Persecution of Christians and Jews spreading; Israel battles Hamas terror organization; Detroit without drinking water; US border discord; migrant children dispersed without family; laws shown weak for lack of attention to consequences; citizens risk law violations to feed neglected poor, rush to judgment endangers or costs lives..."

Do you have the stomach (guts) to become a published writer of articles, news columns, editorials, or information-laden books about people in need, both sides of a critical news story, or societies' "failures"? The only way that I know for any of us to find out is to enter the professional arena, which must include much reading, research, editorial feedback, and analysis.

As much as any time in history, I believe, Christian writers can continue to convey ideas and stories to show understanding and to uplift, to put a check on bitter or knee-jerk reactions to news and social events, to shine new light on human life. You and I can aim lift some of the heaviness of others, I believe, through reminders of Jesus by way of genuine actions, time, and prayers portrayed in ideas.  

Tonight, I watched The Book Thief movie, a moving and provocative story that I hope to see again. It reminds me that the telescopes of history do enrich our perspectives. The story reinforces the message of the power of words.

I have re-posted on LinkedIn today the Opine Publishing cover of the book by Mogama. Refugee Was My Name, which is his story of terror years in Liberia. As I worked with the photo links and files, I reminded myself why I hope that others will to take a look at this beautiful book. Mogama had courage and encouragement from others to help him write his story and see it come to life.

     We need good true stories to remind us that people continue, around the world, to overcome disasters, including wars and terrorist inroads. Neither is a good situation, yet even recently we learned of a woman giving birth in prison because she would not reject Christ or her Christian faith. The more we can hear the good news,the words, directly from such new heroes the better our understanding and our moral adjustments will be. We can readjust ourselves to move, continually, out of the ubiquitous comfort zones that tempt us.

  

I believe that writers like you have the desire to develop the tougher inner strength needed to be evaluated by editors, to be engaged by readers, to endure rejection or critique. There is spiritual, as well as intellectual and emotional, armor to help each of us try again, again, and again.

The privilege is mine to know, firsthand, writers willing to put themselves and their work forward. Many writers, I believe, even now are re-dedicating themselves to be more engaged than ever, no matter how many rejections, to build their skills and awareness. Maybe you are one of them. Thereby, the writers' voices of faith are more likely to be heard through their written words.

What is your decision? Have you already settled it, come what may? I encourage you at whatever your writing life may be now to continue to grow your fiction and nonfiction skills and to keep submitting your works for publication.

Click Link here

"A New...Newspaper!" from the Old, in Cairo, Egypt

Image via Wikipedia

Al-Ahram Newspaper logo

by Jean Purcell

"...Mr Mubarak was dealt a significant setback as the state-controlled Al-Ahram, Egypt's second oldest newspaper and one of the most famous media publications in the Middle East, abandoned its long-standing position of slavish support for the regime.

"In a front-page leader, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Osama Saraya hailed the 'nobility' of what he described as a 'revolution' and demanded that the government embark of irreversible constitutional and legislative changes."*

On BBC World News Television, Osama Saraya, editor in chief, smiled broadly and spoke enthusiastically as he spoke about the next few days of change in the newspaper: "a new...newspaper" changing in a country of "7,000 years of history," as one protester stated today. In Saraya's statement, there was no indication of fear that there might be military tampering with a leading government newspaper. Evident was a confident assumption that real change has come, including freedom of the press.

This indicates the editor's expectation that Al-Ahram will be free to report and editorialize about local and national events now, and will not fear being filtered as it follows and analyzes fluid movements in the air. This freedom free nations take for granted, and, as Davis Merritt wrote about in his book, Knightfall, there has been a change in the West regarding "the role of the press in a democracy with the pressure to produce profits." Apparently, Egyptian journalists have yearned to be free to grapple with such problems. Now they expect more independence to do their work, and without fear. That is another part of the jubilant celebration and hope in Cairo and across Egypt on February 11, 2011.

* source: The Telegraph, UK, about Al-Ahram newspaper, Cairo. 

 

Related articles

• Egyptian Reporter Dies After Being Shot During Clashes (foxnews.com)
• Egypt protesters fear revenge if Mubarak stays (msnbc.msn.com)
• The Two Sides of Egypt's Struggle (cbsnews.com)
• Magda Abu-Fadil: Media Key to Covering Egyptian Revolution (huffingtonpost.com)

(c) 2011 Opinari and Author Support